This blog relates to Information, News, Articals, Links to Business Development of Small and Medium Enterprises in Bangladesh.

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

USAID's Global Trade and Technology Network (GTN)

The abreviation of Global Trade & Technology Network should have been GTTN or GT&TN. The reason it is named GTN, because it was previously named Global Technology Network (GTN). The objective of GTN was to transfer US technology from the USA to the LDCs and Developing Countries.

But, after a study, the consultants foud that, if GTN can help the LDCs and Developing Countries for export and import then the demand for US technology can be enhanced. It is kind of a after sales service, where the technolgy providers also tell where you can market your product made by their machines. Believing this fact, The Global Technology Network (GTN) turned into Global Trade & Technology Network. But, the brand name GTN was so popular that, the authorities could not change the abreviation.

US-GTN was previously managed by the fund of USAID. Recently, from the start of 2005, USAID stopped funding. But, GTN did not stop functioning. It is currently manage by its successor - International Business Linkages (IBL). I was involved with GTN for a year and registered about 250 companies myself. The Bangladeshi database in GTN is not quite good in terms of quantity. However, the directory is one of the best quality directory in Bangladesh. To approve each SME in this directory. I had to visit each company and assess 3 things:

1. Their legal existance through trade license, VAT certificate, TIN Certificate, Certificate of Incorporation,2. Their physical existance through visiting their premises3. Their capability to either import or export through Export or Import Certificates

To utilize the directory, you need to be a member of GTN. Currently, GTN is not limited to LDCs or Developing Countries. They constantly increasing the number of countries. They also have affiliates in several countries, through whom they can offer business linking services offline and beyond the GTN platform.

The directory is probably one of the best directories in the world for Jute Fiber Exporters, low cost apparel exporters, and handicrafts exporters from Bangladesh. However, in my career life with GTN, I found no harmony or traceable trend in Importers of Bangladesh.

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